I'm traveling to Orange County California! What is there to do (beside beaches) ?

There's lots to do in "the OC". Since you are staying with your relatives, I'll include my SoCal Top Ten list, which includes things in LA and Orange County:

Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth. Half a billion visitors can’t be wrong. (Sometimes it seems all at once)

Universal Studios: A theme park that grew out of a studio tour. Check out eBay. You can find some discounted tickets there. And Universal City Walk is a fun place to hang out in the evening after your day inside the park.

Hollywood: Hollywood Boulevard is ready for its close-up, thanks to years of urban renewal and renovation. Enjoy the Walk of Fame, Entertainment Museum, Mann's Theatre and more. You can see a lot for free. I have also added the Hollywood & Highland complex to my top ten list… it has lots of shops and restaurants, and the Kodak Theater (home of the Academy Awards). I like the El Capitan theater, because it has been restored to its former glory, unlike the Chinese, which was essentially gutted and turned into a multiplex.

Rodeo Drive, 90210: Packed with exclusive shops, full of gawkers. They all came to enjoy the excess. Free, unless you intend to buy something.

Venice Beach: Los Angeles kitsch and over-the-top culture at its best.

Here you'll find Muscle Beach, street performers and tacky shops galore.

Fun, VERY interesting, but I avoid it after dark, when it gets a little TOO interesting for my taste. And it's a short bike ride from:

Santa Monica Beach and Pier: Great beach scene and a classic seaside amusement park, complete with antique carousel that has been in a lot of TV and movies. (The Sting and "Three's Company" come immediately to mind).

After visiting the pier, you can ride a bike south a couple miles to Venice Beach.

Santa Monica Third Street Promenade - Downtown Santa Monica's shopping promenade is often the scene of movie star-sightings. Just a short walk from the Santa Monica Pier.

Sunset Boulevard: Perhaps one of the world's most famous streets, it began as a route between the stars' posh neighborhoods and the Hollywood studios. It runs from downtown to the ocean, passing through the "Sunset Strip" on its way. It makes for a fun drive. Along the way, you see a lot of different neighborhoods. Hollywood, West Hollywood, Bel Air, and Pacific Palisades. When you get to the ocean, stop at Gladstone's for Fish.

Queen Mary: Once the largest ship afloat, she's been docked in Long Beach for longer than she sailed, and her elegance never fails to impress. Free to visit. You can actually stay on board, for a price.

Farmers Market and The Grove - A new shopping complex right next to a Los Angeles landmark, The Grove and Farmers Market coexist. Enjoy a movie or shopping, then take the trolley to the Farmers Market for lunch or dinner.

Farmer's Market is right next to CBS, so walk across the lot to see if they are taping "The Price is Right". You might even get in.

Griffith Park - Home of the Los Angeles Zoo, Griffith Park Observatory, Travel Town, the Greek Theatre, and Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage.

Getty Museum - The Getty's architecture is so beautiful that it keeps me fascinated. No matter whether you like their art or architecture better (or maybe you'll just enjoy the view), the Getty is sure to please. Free.

Attend a TV taping - You can get free tickets at audiencesunlimited.com, or see the booth at Universal City walk. It's very interesting to see a show being taped. The most popular, by far, is the tonight show. Check the NBC web site for all the details there.

Places to eat:

In-N-Out Burger: Multiple locations, best burger in LA, ask anyone.

Pink’s Hot Dogs: 709 N. La Brea, just north of Melrose. Might see a celebrity.

Tommy’s Chili Burgers: Look for the shack, an LA tradition. Original location at Beverly & Rampart, a couple miles west of downtown.

Canter’s Deli: 419 N. Fairfax, between Beverly & Melrose. Near CBS, might spot a celebrity.

Phillippe’s: 1001 N. Alameda. Great roast beef sandwiches. Near Union Station, Olvera Street. Watch the mustard, it’s hot.

Places to Stay:

In Hollywood, I recommend the Hollywood Celebrity Hotel and the Farmer's Daughter Hotel.

In Anaheim, I recommend the HoJo Anaheim, and the Candy Cane Inn. If you want to splurge and make this a most memorable trip, stay at Disney’s Grand Californian. You get the full Disney experience. If you don't need to stay by the park, then stay at the Doubletree on Harbor, or even the one in Orange on Chapman.

In Santa Monica, the Holiday Inn Santa Monica is close to the pier and reasonably priced.

Places to Shop:

South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa

Fashion Island, Newport Beach

Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica

Citadel Outlets, Commerce

Beverly Center, Los Angeles

The Block at Orange, Orange

Ontario Mills, Ontario

Knott's Berry Farm is a good place to go, it just didn't make the top ten. After going to Disneyland and Universal, most people are tired of theme parks (and out of money).

Have fun!

-Disneyland/California Adventure

-Downtown Disney

-Angel Stadium to catch an Angels Game

-South coast plaza in costa mesa

-The block in orange

-Irvine Spectrum

Head out to pasadena though. Not too far from the OC. about 30 minutes depending on traffic. They have a strip of shops, restaurants, and clubs/bars.

Theres so many things to do in the OC. If you like theme parks then definitely go to Disneyland and then maybe go to Knotts Berry Farm. If you like to shop definitley go to South Coast Plaza or Fashion Island. But you can do ordinary things like go bowling or play miniture golf. Or better yet hit the clubs and bars! But don't forget the beaches...they are the best!

Hello dear!

From Egypt (correct?) to Orange County!

Well, Orange County is beautiful with natural sites, museums, Disneyland and so on! I was there (from Greece) more than a decade ago, I enjoyed it much!

We have amusement parks (Disneyland and Knott's) , a zoo (Santa Ana) , water parks (Wild Rivers; Soak City) , Little Saigon, Downtown Disney (restaurants and shops at the entrance to Disneyland), major shopping malls, Arabic cultural areas, Mexican cultural area, German Phoenix club, ..just to get started..

Check out The Wedge on the end of Balboa Peninsula @ Newport Beach.

I live in Orange County.

Here are resources that you can look and choose you can go and enjoy your exploration.

Happy fun day!!!

YOU CAN TRY THE 2 MOST KNOWN THEME PARKS IN OC, DISNEYLAND AND KNOTTS BERRY FARM. YOU CAN ALSO GO TO THE WATER PARK SOAK CITY A COUPLE OF MINUTES AWAY FROM KNOTTS.

Disneyland :o))) you'll have fun in OC, go to Laguna Beach, my favorite place

Mount Palomar is an interesting place if you like stars.